PhD Admissions and Funding at the International Relativistic Astrophysics PhD Program Consortium (IRAP PhD). The coordinating Institution is the University of Nice Sophia-Antipolis located in the French Riviera. The IRAP PhD program intends to create the condition of high level education in Relativistic Astrophysics to create a new generation of leading scientists. Each student admitted to the Ph.D. program will be part of a team inside one of the laboratories of the consortium. They will have the opportunity to work in the laboratories of the consortium and be introduced to new topics in the forefront research by internationally recognized experts. In this way the students will come in direct contact with some of the leading scientists in the world working in the theoretical fields of general relativity, relativistic astrophysics, cosmology and in quantum field theories. They will also have access to observations from the leading observatories in space missions in infrared, x and gamma rays wavelengths, as well as to the new generation of large optical telescopes on the ground and ino’s underground observatories. This research is by its nature international and we have identified for this collaborative effort some of the leading European Universities in these fields linked to a vast international collaboration worldwide. The Degree will be a joint one of all the participating Academic institutions.

Students strongly motivated in the study of relativistic astrophysics and fundamental physics and mathematics are encouraged to apply.

PhD students will receive a very competitive salary (gross salary 2800 Euros per month and a 7500 Euro installation grant for non-European students), computing facilities and support for travel, and comprehensive benefits including paid vacation, health care insurance and retirement benefits. To be eligible, applicants should have obtained a Masters degree in astronomy, astrophysics, theoretical physics or a related field. We encourage applications from the best candidates irrespective of nationality, gender or background. Student research will be carried out in the framework of the IRAP PhD Consortium. They will obtain a joint PhD diploma.

Consult the web page: http://www.irap-phd.org for details and application instructions. All inquiries should be directed to Prof. Pascal Chardonnet: chardonnet[at]lapp.in2p3.fr.

Applicants are requested send a curriculum vitae, an application form, a list of all university courses taken and transcripts of grades obtained, brief statements of research interests and experience, and the contact information for at least two referees. Applications received by the deadline of February 28, 2011 will receive full consideration.